by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

DALLAS (AP) - Dallas billionaire and heavyweight GOP political donor Harold Simmons, who has given millions of dollars to Republican candidates, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, has died. He was 82.

Simmons, born to two school teachers in East Texas, became one of the richest men in the country with interests ranging from energy to chemicals. A spokesman for Simmons, Chuck McDonald, says Simmons died Saturday in Dallas. He says he does not know the cause of death.

Simmons' wife, Annette Simmons, tells The Dallas Morning News her husband died at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.